A small smart ID card with a computer chip inside has the capability to support other non-immigration applications, such as conducting electronic transactions and functioning as a Library Card, part of Hong Kong's E-Government efforts which have won international recognition.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, the director of the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, Alan Wong, said that the card has just won an international award in the United States last month in recognition of its promotion of smart technologies, after beating the employers' card of the US Department of Defense.

The E-Government Strategy, part of the Digital 21 Strategy which is Hong Kong's blueprint for IT development in the future, was initiated in 1998 and undertaken by the HKSAR government.

As an executive agency responsible for implementing the government policy on the development of Information Technology (IT) in Hong Kong, Wong noted that the department promotes and enables the extensive use of IT in government and in the community.

"We also aim to enable individuals, businesses and the government to interact easily and securely through the use of IT," he added.

Up to now, some 200 websites have been erected involving 50 different governmental departments, with 90 percent of the government services amenable to the electronic mode of service delivery providing Hong Kong residents e-option.

Such kinds of service, ranging from registering for marriage license to filing tax return, total around 180.

Wong pointed out with pleasure that of the 60 percent of the Hong Kong households surfing the internet, some 70 percent have enjoyed the services brought about by the E-Government Strategy.

With the establishment of the various government websites, Hong Kong residents are bestowed with another way of communicating with government officials or bringing forward their suggestions, according to the officials, adding that www.gov.hk, the SAR government's information website, recorded a visit of 1.86 billionin 2003.

To ensure the smooth operation of these E-Government services, the ITSD has sent 1,300 staff to these government departments to help safeguard the security of the system. In addition to the alert and experience of these technicians, electronic tools including gateway, firewall, intrusion detection system and intrusion prevention system were employed. The department also uses the platform of the E-Government to educate the public on computer security.

Looking ahead, Wong said that his department is to be merged with other government departments on July 1 to oversee that e-option services of different government departments link on-line, so as to save the trouble for Hong Kong people of clicking into several websites.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2004)